Potential problem areas
Intellectual Property (IP) rights are unfamiliar to many and can be complicated. One item can be protected by a number of different IP rights, which can be infringed in different ways. A music CD will have copyright in the music, so-called "mechanical" rights in the recording, design rights in the cover, and well-known brands often register their names as trade marks.
In order to protect your business, and avoid serious legal and security risks, it is important:
- to understand how IP rights infringements can occur;
- to have a strategy for avoiding them, and:
- to know how to address such a problem if it arises.
To assist in identifying instances where IP rights infringement can occur, a range of activities and examples have been identified. Advice is available on steps to help you deal with an IP rights infringement in your business.
Business activities
A business can infringe the IP rights of others by not having the correct licence to support the activities that take place within the business.
Staff activities
Staff infringing IP rights at work can impact productivity, put your systems at risk from malware and put you and your business at risk of legal liability for their actions.
People visiting your workplace
Letting traders onto your premises to sell items to your staff could leave your business facing legal liability. It can also compromise your site security plans.